Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-06-15

manner of n dramatic sailor about leav-
ing home for sea-voyage.
"COme out here, Tad" whispered
Joe; and, too much astonishcd to speak,
Tad followed his friend out on the
noonlit piazza.
al come to say good-bye-rm going
to run away" said Joe, in a voice in
tended 10 be very firm and brave, but
which had a suspicious shake in it, as
he Involuntary glanced back at the
farmhouse little further down the
street, bathed in the soft splcndors of
the moOnbeams.
"Going to run awayr' repeated Tad,
in tones of the utmost establishment.
What for?'
'Well," was the reluctant answer,
there arc n good many reasons. I'm
tired of being thrashed so much, for
one thing" said Joe, squirming around
rather uneasily, rs though he found
sitting on the edge of the piazza I'M
comfortable. "and I'm tired of farm
work, too. Besides" he added, boldly,
II want to DC detective-Mr Bios
som said he'd bet I'd make u real smart
one"
"Then, bine-byc, you'H be goin' off,"
continued Joe, mournfu;ly, as Tad
stared ut his friend in CONSERVATION too
deep for words, land you're the only
fellow I ever cared any thing for, any
way"
mo. indeed, l won'tr' eagerly ex-
claimed Tad; I'm going to stay here
and grow up-AIiss Smiths my own
only found it out by accident" And
Tad related all. with which our reader
is familiar, to Joe's opcn-mouthed
amazement.
'Joo," said Tad. gently, "what do
/ you s'pose your mother would do with
out her bOy?"
That WAS touching r tender spot
Joe loved his mother better than any
thing or anybody in the wide world,
ard Joe was the very apple of her eye.
The boy drew his sleeve across his face,
while the visions of beiTrg detective
were entirely obscured by some trouble
some tears.
"Come, old fellow" continued Tad,
throwing his arm about his friends
neck, ''you know you don't mean it.
Why, it would just about kill your folks
to have you so OF this way; and then
what would 1 do, if you should run
away?"
"I-guess won't-go, after
all, said Joe, brokenly. and the de-
termination cheered him wonderfully.
In five minutes he was chuckling over
the incidents of Edwards capture, and
the conversation became general.
''But tell you, Joe," Tad remarked,
rs he rose to his feet, ''seems to me
I've been getting considerable morn
my share of good things, for one day
five hundred and fifty dollars, and
Aunt Rhoda into the bargain"
at hasn't been such bad day all
round, when you come to think of it."
responded Joe, with his customary
grin. There was Mr.. Atherton got
his sachel, Mis-. Mason her cloak and
things, Cap'n and Mis- Flagg has got
somethin' to talk about, Miss Smith got
Mysteries, Mr.. Blossom got Edwards,
Edwards got caught, and i" said Joe,
as fine summing up, ''got ride-ten
| dollars from Mr.. Blossom for upsetting
Il buggy-and jolly good lickin' for
drivin' stable-team, when I'd been
told not to-"
And Joe, with lightened heart and
a friendly nod, stole back TO the shelter
of the paternal roof, reaching his
chamber in safety; while Tad sought
his own little room. where, with n very
full heart, he knclt by his bedside and
thanked the Good Father of all mercies
for the wonderful way in which He had
directed his boyish steps. Then Tad
undrssed and went to bed, just as the
tall clock downstairs struck twelve,
and thus ended the day of so many
wonderful events.
thus, too, my simple story is virtual
ly endcd-with the future of its charac-
tiers have nothing now to 10. At the
present time
Tad Thorne is an active, growing
boy, of good principles and industrious
habits, capital scholar, and source
of constant comfort and companionship
| to
Miss Rhoda Smith, who seems to have
grown ten years younger since the
events of which have been writing.
She has formally adopted Tad, and is
more proud of him even than is
Captain Flagg, who looks upon him
sch-to use his own worls-as ''the
instermcnt, under Providence, which
WAS the means of interlucin' Tad to
his Aunt Rhody." He has, at the
earnest request of his wife and adopted
daughter, abandoned his perilous call
ing, and turned over the command of
the coaster to Ephraim Cap'n
Small.
Polly Flayg is growing up into one
OF the incest girls / ever knew. That
she has never been able to discover any
thing further as to her parentage
gives her no uneasiness-in fact, she
gives it little thought, being a healthy,
sensible young miss, with no romantic
fancies rs to mysterious birthrights"
and the like. She is trying to live so
that in the fullness of Gods time
she shall meet her own angel mother,
who so long ago was laid under the
daisies which nod above the green
mounds in Bixport cllurch-yarl. Mean:
while, her love for good Mrs. Flagr
and the Captain grows even stronger
rs the days go on; while they, on theft
part, know no difference between Polly
and child of their own flesh and
blood. And that Polly and Tad are the
best of friends goes without saving.
while they seem to exercise n sort of
joint proprietorship in Bounce, who
grows bigger, more affectonatc, know